Uinta Brewing Company - Trader Session IPA

IPAs have become so popular that the “Session IPA” sub-style is now emerging for those of us who enjoy big, hoppy beers but are not always wanting the 7%-ish ABV that comes with the traditional version. Uinta’s Trader Session IPA did a great job of easily satisfying our hop thirst while weighing in only around 4%, an impressive feat! This bright copper brew builds plenty of rocky white foam as you pour, from which emerge big and brightly fruity hop aromas sporting citrus, floral, and tropical fruit notes bolstered by a touch of spice. The hops (including a trio of newer cultivars: Equinox, Ella, and Azacca) are the stars on the palate, too, with the floral and spice tones amped up a bit. There’s a dose of caramel malt which forms the beer’s backbone, offering just a bit of mild sweetness to play counterpoint to the hop bitterness. This is a great beer for summer – quenching and light while being full of flavor. Try pairing with spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes, and go big with the heat. With a low ABV, you can liberally partake of Trader’s quenching goodness! Cheers!

When founder Will Hamill established Uinta (“you-in-tah”) in 1993, he succeeded in merging his love of brewing and his passion for the outdoors. Originally from Maine, Will enjoyed a lifestyle very much like many other Utahans when he arrived in the state, including kayaking, skiing, and biking. But, something was missing – the great craft beer that he had enjoyed in his native state. To satisfy his own cravings, Will took to home brewing and quickly became consumed. After years of perfecting recipes, he was producing beers that not only satisfied him, but also impressed his friends. At that point he enrolled at UC Davis to study brewing and develop his knowledge of the industry.

When Will began Uinta, it was at a very modest facility – a small, converted auto mechanic’s garage. From these humble beginnings, Uinta began brewing and distributing beer to local pubs and restaurants, and three years later demand had escalated enough to install a bottling line. By 2001, the brewery had outgrown its original location, so a 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility was built with energy efficiency as a prime goal. Not only was the new brewery outfitted with the best in brewing technology, it was built to be completely wind-powered. Yep, the brewery is 100% powered by Mother Nature herself, becoming the first business in Utah to achieve that milestone. But, their commitment to the environment doesn’t end there; they established a recycling location for brown glass, installed solar panels, donate their used grain to local ranchers to use as feed, purchase recycled paper, and use natural lighting in the brewery as well as energy-efficient electric lighting. Great job guys, we’ll raise a glass to that! To learn more about Uinta Brewing Company and scheduled tours, call (801) 467-0909 or visit www.uintabrewing.com.